Well Wishes

Happy New Year, Lavender readers! I hope you all had a peaceful and joyous holiday season, and I wish you the best in whatever endeavors, new or old, await you in 2026.

My first order of business for the year, as far as Lavender is concerned, is this very Health & Wellness issue. Last year, our Health & Wellness issue was more focused on physical health, including stories on personal trainer José Mendoza, skincare and dermatology, and how to keep yourself safe (or recover from injuries you suffered) while skiing. This year, our stories are more in the realm of overall wellness than physical health, specifically. 

While mental and spiritual wellness aren’t as easy to show off on Instagram as a physique, that doesn’t mean they’re any less important. But you don’t need me to tell you that. Instead, take it from the experts featured in this issue.

Our first Health & Wellness story documents the rise of queer-affirming therapy here in Minnesota. Features on voice training for trans people, local magical and spiritual goods supplier Magus Books & Herbs, and a new male sexual wellness device from Minnesota-based sexual health and wellness company Morari follow. 

There is another story in this issue that I regret having to tell, but am honored to be able to feature in Lavender. Award-winning local journalist (and personal trainer, for extra Health & Wellness credentials) Danelle Cloutier documented for Lavender the end of the inpatient program at the Pride Institute, an LGBTQ+-specific facility for people in recovery. Pride was one of only a few facilities of its kind in the U.S., and the end of this program is a massive loss. While it’s a shame that our community is losing this resource, the least we at Lavender can do is tell the story of the place and the people whose lives it transformed, and Danelle did an incredible job doing just that. 

Whatever your Health & Wellness goals for the new year may be — aligning your chakras, lasting longer in bed, transforming your voice, finally finding the right therapist or anything else — I hope something in this issue helps you achieve them.